Andy Meade Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 My winter build is a Hawker Sea Hawk for PSS. Love 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil May Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Ahhh, just checked Sunday's forecaste and I think your right Andy, it's going to have to wait. Best wait for the right day 👍 I saw the video of your Mig's maiden, looked a tad tail heavy, what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Yup, tail heavy for sure. Plus I used some spongey wire from an old kit for the aileron links, so not a lot of roll at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Blimey, what a thread. Never been sloping, but I'd love to try it. I am building a Depron version of the Snazzle, enlarged to 30 " span from 21". The idea being that when we go to our son's place in Berwick I can chuck it orff the beach cliffs while the grandkids are playing. What I'd like to know is, can a sloper be used on a sea wall? I live in the Fens, which are as flat as a witch's bazoomas for thirty miles, but we have river banks about 20 feet high for miles. There's one just across the field in front of our house. MrTin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I have seen videos of people sloping off of dunes, sea walls, and dams - so I'd say yes. Keep the build light and be sure to run a build blog so we can be nosey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton 1 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I've flown a light foamie off the sea wall at Goldcliffe near Newport, over looking the Bristol channel. You can't do much really except fly back and forth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton 1 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 So with a light SE breeze forecast for Sunday, I think I will take the opportunity to do some thermal soaring on Meio Common Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Posted by Steve Houghton 1 on 12/08/2015 16:28:29: I've flown a light foamie off the sea wall at Goldcliffe near Newport, over looking the Bristol channel. You can't do much really except fly back and forth. Steve, does that mean no aeros? Not even a roll or a small loop? MrTin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 This chap seems to have fun in Essex on a sea wall. Someone in the comments mentions the snazzle, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Houghton 1 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Well MrTin, I guess that depends upon the height of the wall, the wind speed, and the weight and comparability of the model to perform aeros. In my case the wall faces south and South East, both directions are not known for good wind speeds locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Yes, I guess it's how long is a piece of string, ain't it. The wall near me faces SSW, from whence come the majority of our winds, so could be good as long as i don't fall backuds into the Middle Level Main Drain, wot is a bit big! My that wall looks familiar. I used to live among the sea walls and dykes of Essex. (Steady, now!!) Cheers, MrTin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil May Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Great day flying Mickeys slope up the Bwlch on Sunday, nice to meet some new faces. Here's a photo of my Mig in action taken by Phil Cooke. 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conwy Soarer Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 This photo (for me) sums up the Joy of Slope, Nothing better than chilling and chatting with mates after a good flying session with stunning scenery - Orme sunset session with the kids from school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetenor Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Nice kids Nice kit but where are you ? Or is that you hiding amongst the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetenor Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Posted by Ian Jones on 11/05/2015 10:35:54: Yes Chris a day of mixed fortunes. Anyway that settles the Windrider Bee clone question. I've yet to fly mine in a decent wind though that wasn't the original intention, it was more of a backup when the lift isn't so good. No doubt see you up there sometime. Ian Should have crashed the car into the gatepost .At least you could have claimed on the insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Jones Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Posted by onetenor on 25/04/2016 02:21:32: Posted by Ian Jones on 11/05/2015 10:35:54: Yes Chris a day of mixed fortunes. Anyway that settles the Windrider Bee clone question. I've yet to fly mine in a decent wind though that wasn't the original intention, it was more of a backup when the lift isn't so good. No doubt see you up there sometime. Ian Should have crashed the car into the gatepost .At least you could have claimed on the insurance Wish I'd thought of that when I submitted the flight plan! Had a more succesful run out to the hills last week (Bosley Minn), brought the car home still running & in one piece. More importantly brought the model, SI Secret Weapon, home in one piece too! A little trick I devised, leave the model in ahead of the direction of travel when setting off in the car, that way it can't be forgotten ( ) . Edited By Ian Jones on 25/04/2016 11:33:22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookman Posted September 21, 2024 Share Posted September 21, 2024 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookman Posted September 21, 2024 Share Posted September 21, 2024 Yesterday afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted September 21, 2024 Share Posted September 21, 2024 A growing group of us have regular slope sessions, we meet at Mother Hubbards in Baildon village for sit-down Fish & Chips, then off up to the slope (Baildon Moor) for a long days flying. Its not the best slope in the country, (not even in the county!) but we have great fun and banter. Huge variety of models large & very small including scale, combat, kippers, me & my S/C and Reeds models, thankfully few mouldies (contentious I know) and never any paragliders. All are welcome to join us! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookman Posted October 23, 2024 Share Posted October 23, 2024 Here is an example of one of the joys of Slope soaring. Whitesheet last Saturday afternoon. PMP Eppisoar and buzzard. With thanks to Claire for the picture. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hewett Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 The joy of slope. 'You must try slope soaring' - you all said. 'Yeah, it's really great' - chorused everybody. And so I did. And now my poor Phoenix 2000 is in more pieces than came in the box. I'd had her about 8 years, never crashed, barely a scratch on her, and she's been to just over 2000ft in a returning sea breeze front, one summer evening. While I stuck to sensible flat field soaring, all was good. Thanks a bunch guys! Actually I've been wanting to try slope soaring since I were a lad flying r/c thermal soarers at Fairlop (a famous model flying site long ago), but a shortage of hills in Essex meant it never happened. Now I live near Walton-on-the-Naze, where there is a cliff about 150ft high, with a green on top some 400 x 50m. I had sometimes admired the gulls soaring here and thought this would be a good spot to try myself. With easterly winds of 15-20mph forecast for several days, the kids all in school, and the wind just cold enough to keep many of the old ladies with dogs away - it all came together. It also all came apart... Having studied Dave Hughes' 'Radio Control Soaring' as a lad, and read Richard Bach's 'Jonathon Livingston Seagull', and sat and watched the gulls for half an hour - I felt quite well prepared. My plan was to wait for the green to be clear of dogs and old ladies, then launch under power from the benches some 50m behind the cliff edge, and climb above the turbulence and curl over I expected might be lurking, invisibly, at low level behind the lip, and soar gracefully up and down in the zone of lift just in front of the cliff - just as the gulls were doing. It worked! I was surprised how smooth the air was, coming straight off the sea, compared to the same wind speed at an inland site. The forecast said about 20 or 22 mph windspeed, but this was more like 25-30mph. Due to 'compression' and speeding up of the airflow over the higher ground? I fed in lots of down trim, and negative camber for speed and found I could soar just like the gulls. At this high cruise speed (high for flat field soaring) I could put the nose 10 or 20 degrees out of wind and soar gracefully along just in front of the cliff edge, 50 or 100ft above it. I didn't try going more than perhaps 50m out for fear of losing the lift and the model descending out of sight. I could pitch up a little to slow down and sit in the band of lift just in front of the cliff, stationary as if hanging from a sky hook. I could push the nose down for speed, put the heading 30 deg out of wind, and wizz along in front of the cliff. A gull came and joined me, slinking in from behind and staying in close formation with the model. It didn't attack or seem concerned by this intruder - I had seen two gulls earlier shoe away a kestrel? with a disdainful flick of the wing. It just seemed to be curious or having fun. An elderly gent out for a walk stood fascinated, looking up at the model and gull soaring gracefully in close formation above him. After 10 or 15 minutes I started to explore the air a little further out. Returning to just in front of the cliff, so I thought, the model started slowly sinking. 'Haha, no problem' I said to myself - I'll just add power and climb away. At about 20ft, the model suddenly rolled 90deg, against full aileron, and hit the ground hard on a wing tip, which broke off, then the nose, smashing the spinner. It has other damage as well, but can hopefully be repaired. I think I still had good flying speed when the loss of control ocurred - I guess this was the dreaded curl over at low level, just behind the cliff edge, that I have read about. The gulls don't seem to have this trouble. I don't have an ignore list, but if anyone says anything about Phoenixes rising from ashes, I will start one. Right - now off to find a thread about foam repairs! Of course I actually thoroughly enjoyed it - and can't wait to try again :-) 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 A timely post as a group (8?) of us from the South Norfolk Model Flying Club are, weather permitting, having a day trip up to the North Norfolk coast, probably West Runton, for a bit of sloping. I haven’t done any sloping since the late 70’s early 80’s when I used to live in West Sussex so I will be a bit rusty. In anticipation of this event and as I haven’t got a really suitable model I started building a Phase 5 from plans a couple of weeks ago, build pics will follow. So fingers crossed that the wind will be in the NE direction and that we can access the cliffs at West Runton. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Ron, may I ask please, where abouts in West Sussex did you fly slope soaring from please ? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Bad luck Mark - the slope can be an unforgiving place at times. Just received a few pictures from Derek, including a couple of my Aggressor on the slope on Tuesday afternoon - a happier note than the picture of the wreckage of my ancient Ridge Racer that I posted earlier. They are the only pictures that I have of my Aggressor and I was happy to actually bring it home in one piece - in anything other than a perfect landing there's a weak point just behind the trailing edge where it will split the fuselage if you as much as look at it sideways. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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